Developing iPhone apps can be confusing and difficult.  You put so much time into your app that you may get heartbroken if you run into any bugs during development or denial during the Apple review process.  If you are going to put so much into your app, there are a few general tips that you need to know before you even begin writing that first programming code.

Basic Requirements (Things you will need before you start anything)

Most importantly, above all else, you will need a MAC computer that has an Intel processor.  You will need to be running the OS X (operating system X) version 10.5.3, minimally.

Learning a new computer system and OS system

On top of trying to learn the process of developing iPhone apps. You now have to learn how to use a Mac and the Leopard OS, which is a difficult task for PC users that have no experience with a MAC.  You are bound to experience some frustration but the thing to keep in mind is that you will get through this.

The iPhone SDK

One of the most important things that you will need is the iPhone Software Development Kit.  This program is required in order to create an iPhone app.  It will contain everything that you need.  You will need to familiarize yourself with dmg files, which are basically just disk image files for MAC operating systems.

The iPhone Simulator

Before you can start testing your iPhone apps on a real iPhone (which requires codes that are provided with the developer membership), you can use the iPhone Simulator.  This program has all the bells and whistles that a real iPhone would have.  It is designed for the sole purpose of allowing you to test your iPhone app at any time while you are still developing.  It’s simple to use, and can give you a heads up on any problems that you may have.

The iPhone Dev Center

One of the most important aids that you can have is the iPhone Dev Center.  There are tons of helpful articles, tutorials, and how-to videos that can help you understand what you are trying to do.  There are also answers for many questions that you may have if you run into trouble.

The iPhone Developer Program

This is much like the standard developer membership with a few exceptions.  First, it isn’t free; there is usually a joining fee.  You should know, despite common beliefs, getting this upgraded membership does not give you automatic inclusion of your apps into the App Store.  It does, however, give you the ability to test your apps on a real iPhone before you submit them for approval to Apple.

The information that is provided here is by no means all of the information that is available to help you.  It is only meant to be a small portion of what you need to be successful in developing your iPhone app.  Instead, you should find as much information as you can, especially from other developers.